Another slow-burning, moody episode of Game of Thrones this week, which felt like a precursor to next week’s inevitable, episode-long bloody battle. Highlights included Brienne of Tarth receiving a knighthood, an unexpected sex scene and meditations on Jamie’s growth (and possible death).

We also welcome WIRED’s Sophie Charara to the fold, who offers her expert analysis on who will sit on the throne, and we make bold predictions about who will survive next week’s battle. It should go without saying that there are spoilers ahead.

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Andy Vandervell: I don't think any other TV show could get away with two episodes where almost nothing happens. But this episode had a few key themes. One, foreshadowing people's deaths and; two, Jon telling Daenerys the truth. I don't know about you, Sophie, but it seemed really underplayed when it happened.

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Sophie Charara: Daenerys looked suitably displeased and, even though it wasn't particularly dramatic here, the reveal could be what marks her character's shift into tyrant queen that some people have predicted. It was set up in her stilted chat with Sansa earlier in the episode that the only reason she's fighting the dead in Winterfell and not storming King's Landing is that she loves and trusts Jon – he of the worst possible timing.

Will Bedingfield: I agree – the look Daenerys gave Jon when she realised he had the rightful claim as the male heir was ice cold. Like you said, that chat with Sansa reminded us how badly she wants the Iron Throne. I can honestly see her betraying Jon in some way for it. She's on the verge of tyrant status!

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On foreshadowing deaths, Andy, Jaime's seemed the most clear – Bran saying "what makes you think there'll be an afterwards". Did you notice any others?

AV: That was the most blatant, though I do wonder if Bran just enjoys taunting him. Jorah Mormont will no doubt honour his father by finally kicking the bucket and Tyrion saying "at least Cersei won't get to murder me" was kind of brilliant, even if I'm still not convinced that'll come to pass. If Jaime does die, it'll probably be saving Brienne. Those two have grown so much together and that final moment knighting Brienne was perfect.

SC: Bran could have had a lot of fun trolling everyone just before the battle. I also took his line to mean an 'after' for everyone, not just Jaime. Totally agree on Jorah, he's a goner. Nearly all the characters talked about dying tomorrow, but I hope Tormund's unique brand of flirting – "we're all going to die but at least we'll die together" – was a bluff from the writers. If we assume the most poignant moments spell the worst, that makes the magic of Jaime knighting Brienne "a knight of the Seven Kingdoms" very bittersweet indeed. Tyrion knows what he's doing when he slips up like that. Will, do you think the new Ser Brienne will survive?

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WB: Yeah, taking them one by one, agree Jorah is a goner. I agree Bran's comment could refer to all of the living, but I felt like it may have been directed at Jaime. I think Jaime will definitely survive this battle, though. He needs to stay alive to witness whatever betrayal Cersei is planning. I still think Jaime is going to kill his sister; it’s a character arc that makes sense since he began the series by pushing Bran out the window for her. I think Brienne will live, but it's just a feeling – really most people aren't safe at this point!

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I guess we should talk about the plan to kill the Night King by luring him out to kill Bran. (I think Arya may be secretly planning to try and kill him.) What do you think of the plan?

AV: Arya will slay the Knight King with her raised eyebrow alone! Maisie Williams has a serious eyebrow game. As for the plan, it does seem like the most plausible way to defeat the dead, but it will obviously come at a huge cost. I suspect Daenerys will be pretty pissed if defeating them destroys her chances of ruling the Seven Kingdoms.

We talked about this last week, but did anything in this episode change that calculation? Will there even be an Iron Throne in the end?

WB: I'm still pretty certain that there will be an Iron Throne, less sure who will sit on it.

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SC: If I was putting money on it, I'd say Sansa – she acts so regal these days compared to the rest of them squabbling. I don't see how it won't be a Stark. That's the sensible answer; part of me secretly wants everyone to die except Tyrion.

Sticking on Tyrion, one of my favourite moments was when he pulled up a chair to listen to Bran tell his story. In the absence of plot, there was a lot of fun character backstories, such as Tormund's giant milk tale. That and the backslapping and singing in front of the fire was fan service done well.

AV: Yes, and it was interesting we never got to hear that conversation. Odds on Bran revealing something important we'll learn about later?

WB: That's a great point. After the monumentally thick decision of believing his sister, which we discussed last week, I think (and hope) this may be the turning point for Tyrion in the series. I'm hoping his discussion with Bran will lead him to finally using his great brain that Ser Jorah bigged up to Daenerys . He hasn't done anything smart in quite a while. So yes, I think Bran has told him something.

SC: Maybe Tyrion being a fool is setting up his big miscalculation around Daenerys?

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AV: I'd love to know what Varys thinks right now. He's been way too quiet recently.

SC: In the scene where Jon outlined the plan to defend Winterfell, there was far too much agreement around the map table. I did enjoy the visual of Sansa, Jon and Arya plotting together though.

WB: Yeah, just having everyone in the room at once after so many years where they've been spread across Westeros is emotional! And I just wanted to say that I turned out to be right about Gendry and Arya last week…

SC: Yes, in this case her eyebrow was saying she hasn't forgotten seeing Gendry forging and smithing all those years ago... a section of Twitter is up in arms about this scene.

AV: It’s an important character moment in many ways. For a long time Arya seemed to have lost all her humanity, so it’s been great to see her reconnect with people in these last two episodes.

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But it’s time for us to wrap this up with more predictions. We're going to get the greatest battle in Game of Thrones history next week. Name one person who will survive and why.

SC: A bigger battle than Helm's Deep in Lord of the Rings, according to the hype. Arya will not only survive but I agree with Will – she'll put all her training to good use with some typically badass contribution.

WB: I'm going to say Arya as well but I'm going to put my Wired reputation on the line and be even more specific – I think she will appear to be dead at the episode's end, probably trying to kill Night King, then reappear later in the series wearing someone's face.

AV: Bold prediction, I like it. I'm choosing Pod, because someone is going to need to repopulate the Seven Kingdoms and he's well equipped for the job. Roll on next week.